Ecosystems of the planet

Question 1

Define ecosystem

Answer 1

Natural areas in which plants, animals and other organisms are linked to each other

Question 2

Define biome

Answer 2

A large scale ecosystem

Question 3

Define biotic

Answer 3

The living parts of an ecosystem

Question 4

Define abiotic

Answer 4

The physical, non living parts of an ecosystem

Question 5

What’s the diagram for the independence of ecosystems

Answer 5

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Animals

Plants‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Soil

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Climate

Question 6

What are the four layers of a tropical rainforest

Answer 6

Emergent - as high as 50m
Canopy - high as 30m, receives 70% sunlight and 80% rainfall
Under canopy - high as 20m
Shrub layer - trees and shrubs adapt to live in the shad, less than 5% sunlight

Question 7

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a polar region (Antarctic)

Answer 7

Climate:
Long cold winters and short cool winters
Weather is kept within the continent due to circumpolar winds

Location:
South Pole covered by an immense ice shelf

Flora:
100 species of moss
300-400 species of lichen

Fauna:
Emperor penguin
Killer whales

Question 8

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a polar region (the Artic)

Answer 8

Climate:
Long cold winters and short cool summers
Warm weather from the South

Location:
North Pole

Flora:
1700 species of plants
Moss

Fauna:
Polar bears
Whales

Question 9

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a coral reef

Answer 9

Climate:
Warm water all year round (18°)
Clear water and shallow water (no deeper than 30m)

Location:
Mostly found in the tropics

Flora:
Turtle grass
Manatee grass

Fauna:
Red snapper fish
Green turtle

Question 10

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a tropical rainforest

Answer 10

Climate:
Hot and wet with no seasons
2000mm annual rainfall

Location:
Around the equator
South East Asia

Flora:
Buttress roots
Lianas

Fauna:
Toucan
Monkey

Question 11

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a tropical grassland (savannah)

Answer 11

Climate:
A long dry season and short wet season

Location:
Between 5° and 30° North and South of the equator
Most of central Africa

Flora:
Pampas grass
Baobab tree (10m in diameter to store water and no leaves to prevent transpiration)

Fauna:
Lions
Elephants

Question 12

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a temperate grassland

Answer 12

Climate:
Annual rainfall of 250-750mm

Location:
Between 40° and 60° North and South of the equator
Central part of continents

Flora:
Willow
Tussock grass

Fauna:
Rabbits
Wolves

Question 13

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a temperate forest

Answer 13

Climate:
4 distinct seasons
Summers are warm and winters are mild

Location:
Between 40° and 60° North and South of the equator
Western Europe

Flora:
Oak
Bracken

Fauna:
Deer
Foxes

Question 14

What is the climate, location, flora and fauna of a hot desert

Answer 14

Climate:
Hot at day and cold at night
Annual rainfall of 40mm

Location:
30° North and South of the equator
Northern Africa

Flora:
Most plants are xerophytic (can survive on very little water)
Yucca plants (roots are near the surface)

Fauna:
Camels (humps to store water)
Meerkats

Question 15

What is the nutrition cycle in a tropical rainforest

Question 16

What is the nutrient cycle in a coral reef

Answer 16

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Algae
Energy‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ Nutrition
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Coral

Question 17

Case study : Peruvian Amazon rainforest

What is its importance

Answer 17

Archaeology -remains of ancient civilisations exist within the rainforest
Biodiversity - almost 3000 known amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles
Indigenous tribes - many traditional tribes live in remote parts of the rainforest
Medical plants - rainforest plants are important in helping to treat diseases such as cancer

Question 18

Case study : Peruvian Amazon rainforest

How is it under threat from human activity

Answer 18

Timber - the variety of hardwood trees are highly valued for making furniture. 95% of logging is illegal
Energy - there are large reserves of oil and gas. Oil spills can damage the ecosystem and pollute rivers
Mining - gold is mined from alluvium in rivers. Cause pollution by toxic chemicals such as mercury
Roads - the Trans-Oceanic Highway is a major development planned to connect a Brazilian highway to the Pacific ports in Peru. This could lead to significant rainforest destruction and may worsen the illegal felling of trees
Agriculture - lowland area are being cleared to make way for ranching and the cultivation of commercial crops such as soybean. Fires are use to clear land which can get out of control

Question 19

Case study : Peruvian Amazon rainforest

How is it sustainably managed

Answer 19

Since 2000, rainforest harvesting activities require a management plan in line with guidelines from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Reserves have been created to protect indigenous tribes and give them land rights over mineral extraction and the use of their land
National Parks and National Reserves have been created to protect ecologically valuable areas
In southeast Peru, the Purus-Manu Conservative Corridor comprises national parks and several reserves for indigenous people. It protects an area of 10 million hectares

Question 20

Case study : Andros Barrier Reef

Where is it located

Answer 20

In the Bahamas, off the southeast coast of Florida
Extends for 200m

Question 21

Case study : Andros Barrier Reef

What is the ecosystem and what species are found there

Answer 21

Ecosystem:
164 species of fish and coral make up the reef
Fish benefit from the safety of the reef for shelter and breeding
Coral benefits from nitrogen excreted through the gills of fish

Species:
Red snapper fish
Green turtle

Question 22

Case study : Andros Barrier Reef

What is its importance

Answer 22

Scientific research - as one of the world’s healthiest reefs, it is extensively used for scientific monitoring and research
Coastal protection - protects coastlines from powerful storms surges associated with hurricanes
Tourism - visits for diving and snorkelling, Receives over US$150 million of tourism revenue a year
Fishing -corals provide shelter for fish and provide the perfect breeding grounds

Question 23

Case study : Andros Barrier Reef

How is it under threat from human activity

Answer 23

Overfishing - depleting fish stock and harvesting sponge causes an imbalance in the ecosystem. Trawling nets and anchors cause physical damage to the corals
Pollution - under threat from agricultural chemicals and silt discharge from rivers can reduce sunlight penetration. Oil and chemical discharges from ships cause harm to corals and fish
Climate change - high water temperatures can trigger a stress reaction in the coral which results in the expulsion of zooxanthellae and bleaching. This can cause the reef to die

Question 24

Case study : Andros Barrier Reef

How is it sustainably managed

Answer 24

West side national park - Afford protection from development for over 50% of Andros Island. Management planning aims to balance economic activities, e.g. sponge fishing
Crab replenishment reserve - seeks to ensure a sustainable crab population
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park - a coral nursery that enables threatened species to be conserved and subsequently re-introduced to the coral reef